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Rickards' Crumbie to transfer to IMG Academy

Rising senior Vosean Crumbie opts to join to IMG Academy for the inaugural season

Vosean Crumbie wants to play basketball or football in college. Possibly both sports, too, under the right circumstances.

And Crumbie, 17, believes IMG Academy can help accomplish his goals.

That’s why the rising senior and two-sport star at Rickards High School has applied to attend the private athletic training institute in Bradenton this upcoming school year.

“I just think this will help me in being recruited, and I think being around people trying to do the same thing I am doing will really help me out,” said Crumbie, who returned from a two-day visit to IMG on Wednesday. “The school and training facilities are amazing.

“I feel like it’s a good business decision.”

IMG, which attracts youth, high school, collegiate and professional athletes from around the world, is fielding a high school football team for the first time this season.

The team will play as an independent member of the Florida High School Athletics Association.

“We have set the expectation level very high, academically and athletically, and that will never change,” Weinke said.

“With our staff, we will be able to develop kids as well as anybody. These players will be prepared to go to college once they leave here and, at the end of the day, that is the most important piece of the puzzle.”

Crumbie, a 6-foot-2, 186-pounder, is an accomplished basketball player at point guard.

Despite limited playing time in football, the receiver/cornerback has started to attract collegiate interest after he attended recent summer camps at Florida State, Alabama, Kentucky and Louisville.

“It became very apparent after watching him go through drills that he has a ton of raw athletic ability that would apply to football,” said Patrick Burnham, a recruiting analyst for Fox Sports.Net and Scout.com and the son of former FSU assistant coach Wally Burnham.

“It’s easy to see why he’s so intriguing to so many schools because of his unique combination of size, speed and athleticism.”

Crumbie says he’s looking forward to the move to Bradenton when the application process is completed, and attending IMG his senior year. He will live on-campus, which can be an expensive venture.

Weinke said the annual fee for full-time school, boarding, meals, and athletics is $65,000 annually. Weinke said IMG does not provide athletic scholarships but financial assistance is available.

Althea Gaines, Crumbie’s mother, also visited IMG with her son.

“It wasn’t quite as difficult a decision once I researched IMG and started to learn what it’s about, what it does and the expectations,” Gaines said.

“I want him to be able to reach his fullest potential. I feel this opportunity would be a step in this direction. There will be some sacrifices, but I think the sacrifices will be well worth it.”

IMG’s football team will play in a new multi-sports facility that will include a 40,000-square foot field house and a Bermuda grass playing field.

It will host Palm Beach Gardens in a Kickoff Classic on Aug. 24, and open the regular season at home against North Miami Beach.

“I am pretty sure everyone will understand why I want to do this because it’s such a great opportunity,” said Crumbie, who hopes to be at IMG in early July.

“I just think this is the best decision and best opportunity for me right now.”